Silage Characteristics of Selected Forage Maize Varieties Harvested in Sole and Forage Legume Mixtures

The present study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics of selected forage maize varieties harvested in sole and forage legume mixtures. Two different forage maize varieties were harvested in different forage systems, that is, sole maize, maize + common vetch and maize + lablab intercrops, and ensiled in small-scale silos. After ensiling, samples were collected to examine the nutrient composition, fermentation quality and microbial population. Ensiled forage varieties harvested in sole forage systems had a significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lower dry matter and crude protein contents (31.18% and 7.15% DM, respectively) than that from forage legume mixtures. Forage legume mixtures had significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lower neutral detergent and acid detergent fibre contents (24.42% and 35.53% DM, respectively) and higher water-soluble carbohydrates (12.34% DM) in silage of selected varieties than sole forage systems. The pH value and ammonia nitrogen content of ensiled forage varieties were lower, while lactic acid production (7.25% DM) was greater in forage legume mixtures than in sole forage system. Lower acetic and propionic acid and higher butyric acid contents (1.06%, 0.84% and 0.46% DM, respectively) were observed in sole forage system for silage of selected varieties compared to forage legume mixtures. Sole forage systems showed lower numbers of lactic acid bacteria and higher populations of enterobacteria (4.31 and 4.34 log₁₀ cfug^-1, respectively) in silages of selected varieties than forage legume mixtures. The study concluded that ensiling forage materials harvested in forage intercrops have a positive effect on the silage quality. Therefore, the recommended forage system for ensiling is forage legume mixtures.